Mast Step

[ssanzone]

do i need to show this mast step some love b4 i re-step and, if yes, what do i re-bed it with?

any advice?

-steve

[ssanzone]

no thoughts about this?

it is pretty solid. i can bang on it with a hammer but seems like 'one of those things' that should be perfect. with the mast collar at the deck, there isnt any chance of this leaning...

idk.

shocking as this is to hear... i know someone out there is smarter than i.

:P

thx.

-s

[SVTatia]

Where is the mast step? It looks like this is the bed for the mast step - what condition is the step in? What are the four holes for and how do you bolt it down (wood screw or washer and nut)?
In any case, just clean up the area, if there is no water intrusion and below is just the bilge, and it is solid glass there is no need for bedding.
My 2cnts.

[ssanzone]

hmmm, it is very possible that the actual step is MIA and this, the bed, is somewhat irrelevant.

I guess i didnt think this all the way thru.

-steve

[skipmac]

As near as I can tell from the picture this does look like the base where the step would sit. Even with a keel stepped mast going through a deck collar you need something to restrict movement of the mast base, so some sort of plate with a rim or wall around the perimeter to hold the mast.

[robwilk37]

are you still planning the "new" 50' mast? is so, youll need the shoe that goes with it or have 1 fabbed up. id clean up what you have and bed the new shoe to prevent future water intrusion. hows the compression post?

[Cheechako]

Yes there should be an alum step that secrures the mast in the location. Not hard to fabricate if you cant find one. I woild clean that area good and at least paint it, if not epoxy or gel coat. This is your rare chance to do so.

[neilpride]

The step is gone for sure in the pic, rest of corroded alu and the lag bolts holes, if the question is what kind stuff to use with the new step, i use 5200 , around the perimeter of the holes and following the perimeter of the mast step, try to keep the small drain hole in the new step clear and clean...Cheers.

[ssanzone]

there is no compression post as this boat is keel stepped.

i will give this some love and have the mast step fabricated when i have the mast collar redesigned.

i am glad i asked... this could have been a nightmare in a few weeks.

-s

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by ssanzone

there is no compression post as this boat is keel stepped.

i will give this some love and have the mast step fabricated when i have the mast collar redesigned.

i am glad i asked... this could have been a nightmare in a few weeks.

-s

Once you've figured out what mast section you intend to use, you can find mast steps at (click on) Mast Steps

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by ssanzone

there is no compression post as this boat is keel stepped.

i will give this some love and have the mast step fabricated when i have the mast collar redesigned.

i am glad i asked... this could have been a nightmare in a few weeks.

-s

On example of a simple-to-fab step is just an aluminum plate with a cross welded to it. The cross fits inside the mast section fore/aft and athwartships. The mast sits on the plate which is larger than the mast section.

[Lojanica]

I recently had a mast step fabricated. Easy. I cut a 1" cross section of the bottom of the mast to get rid of the corroded mast base and gave that to the fabricator who welded up a nice step out of aluminum.

[neilpride]

Few months agoo we rebuild a rig in a c&c 42 landfall, step and collar to, here is the mast step , it fit some diferent mast sections, the brand is soromap. nice quality...

[Mackster]

I bought Argo, a Newport 41 from Alameda, about a year ago. I think I may have mast step compression issues. Did you open up your mast base? Do you have any images of what is supporting the mast base? Any info or images would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Doug Mackey

[neilpride]

No idea in the newport 41, in that particular boat , c&c 42 the mast rest in a alu step in the bilge floor, to remove the old step we got a hard time , also there is one fwd keel bolt under the step, insane,,, we grind the whole area to bare FG and build a 2 inch sandwich with FG and CF in the midle with epoxy, taking particular attention to save the keel bolt location, we use a round section of pvc over the keel bolt and cut the same size hole in the step for future working in the keel bolt, if i remember well we found bits of rotten wood , corroded aluminium, and solid resin around , a mess. The owner ask for strenght in the base of the mast, take it that, 2 inches of solid glass with CF....